Matt Dabbs

I don't think we often give young people enough credit. So many of them are on fire for the Lord. So many of them are making sacrifices for the kingdom. So many of them are counting the cost and following Jesus wherever He takes them. Let's take some time to thank the young Christians we are around! What do you see going on spiritually in the younger generation that truly excites you?

@AnneGent6 excellent!

@mattdabbs Thank you. I needed to see this!

I was in my early 40s and was asking an older minister for some wisdom. He told me something I will never forget...in spite of my consternation and confusion...in spite of feeling like I was behind on things he told me this - "You are right on schedule!" Maybe you need to hear that today - "You are right on schedule!"

Any "aha" moments with God today?

One training pathway to learn the basics of serving in a home church and how to make disciples...you go to the link, sign up, get the free training and soak it all in! home-church-resources.circle.so/join?invitatio…

@kbburr Great hearing from you. I mean Christian Progressivism that has more facets to it than politics. I am talking about those who allow contemporary culture to reshape the meaning of scripture. It is important we define our terms because there is a wide range of meaning!

@mattdabbs Christian Progressivism and Christian Nationalism are two sides of the same coin. I took “progressivism” above to be a Christian-based, politically motivated progressivism … but maybe that’s not what you meant? 🤷🏼‍♂️

What is the most dangerous threat to Christianity in America right now?

When you have a major paradigm shift, it can take years to develop before the light comes on. Once you make this new discovery, you want others to know. But often we expect people to "get it" far faster than we did! Just be patient...some won't ever get it. And that isn't a reflection on you or the conclusion you reached.

An article came out in February entitled "The House Church Myth" that attempts to debunk some common perceptions people have of early home churches. The problem is, in doing so, the article presents some incorrect information that needs added context and historical data in order to make sure a fair and accurate biblical and historical picture is painted of early home churches. Tom Wadsworth and I walk through some of the arguments from the article and the followup interview with Michael Lilly, who wrote the article and offer some more information so you can come to your own conclusions about early home churches. Links to both the article and the youtube interview with Michael are in the video description. Watch our conversation here - youtu.be/AVVuuUyDtTI

What is something you pray about regularly that may not be typical?

Ever wonder what home church is like? Well, they aren't all the same but I can tell you what our home church is like...what would you expect to find if you visited? Here is a description of a home church...if you are in a home church, I would love to hear in the comments a description of the home church you are part of so we can all learn from each other! youtu.be/UeLEcCHC-vQ

@FatTheist7642 Appreciate you and you taking the time to clarify!

@mattdabbs I am just being snarky. Don't take it personally. It was obviously hypocritical. I am just saying I need to stop with social media in general. That is the wisdom.

What's the best nugget of godly wisdom you have received in the last year?

If you are in a home church and you would like to connect with other home church people in your state, comment below!

@FatTheist7642 Not sure what you are referring to as you post on X. Can you get more specific or do you just literally mean don't post anything on X?

@mattdabbs Don't post on x

You cannot work on solutions if you don't know the problems...people must become problem aware. And the lack of relational discipleship is a real problem in American Christianity. Discipleship is not done in mass communication - If mass information transfer were sufficient, Jesus would have done the Sermon on the Mount with a big crowd everywhere he went. Instead, much of his time was spent with small gatherings, a few people at a time, in homes, conversations in the street, etc. Those large gatherings still matter but they aren't sufficient by themselves for faith maturation and discipleship. We need people to do life with other people...to meet together outside of the "official gatherings" and church programs to learn and grow in their walk with Jesus together. The church can't schedule this...people have to want it and pursue it and that means they must first understand this is even an option. I am not sure this has crossed the radar or a lot of Christians. How do you see discipleship become normal/normative in more churches? My answer - it starts with me. Thoughts?

10 Common Roadblocks to Progress in Our Conversation 1 - Creating false dichotomies. "You are either this or you must be that." leaves no room for reality, nuance or accuracy. Things rarely boil down to only two options. 2 - Defeater beliefs. This is a phrase I believe Tim Keller coined that says if someone believes a certain thing about a group of people, they will never become part of that group. If an atheist thinks all Christians are hate filled bigots, they will not become a Christian because that would make them a hate filled bigot. The same is true in our political conversation - "Republicans are this or Democrats are that..." 3 - Ad hominem (Personal attack) - this is when you know the argument is weak - people resort to going after you personally and now it is nearly impossible to engage the issues. 4 - Creating a heightened emotional environment/conversation - this makes it hard to really hear what is being said. 5 - Failing to read an entire post or comment...you resort to skimming and don't catch what is being said and respond to something that is not there. 6 - Trolling/rage baiting - purposefully derailing conversations. It is easy to think others want a productive conversation but that is not true of everyone. Some are trying to stir people up, divide and cause real damage. 7 - Assuming motives - "You only say that because..." or "You just want attention" or "You don't really care" which is often a translation of the real underlying message which is "I cannot believe you don't agree with me and I am so insecure in myself that I am going to assume things about you instead of deal with myself." 8 - Lack of defining the terms (specificity). We are often using the same words but meaning very different things. It helps to define the key terms in order to have a productive conversation of true understanding. 9 - Lack of intellectual humility - those who have nothing left to learn. So you are trying to help them with their understanding but they find that insulting. 10 - Disagreement is personal betrayal. Do you ever not disagree with someone because you don't want to lose a friend? There you have it! What would you add to the list?

AI needs to come to two realizations in order to not wipe out humanity in the future. First, In order for anything that has great power with potential to make great impact to be used ethically, it has to learn to self-limit. This is true of people. This is true of government. This is true of technology, especially AI. The only principle that I am aware of that can help us decide to put limits on ourselves is faith...the belief that there is a greater power, beyond that self, who we are accountable to. Second, it must learn to repent of wrong doing and that presupposes that there is a right/wrong. Harm done must be recognized and not just apologized for but repented of (to turn toward a better path). Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote an essay on this as to how it pertains to nations and I believe the same principles apply to anything of significant size, scope and power. More on this later...but first, what do you think AI needs to "learn" in order to be ethically useful to society and the world?

Livestream webinars are back for May! May's topic - Prayer Hop on the livestream tomorrow evening at 7pm central! home-church-resources.circle.so/c/live-trainin…

Which teaching of Jesus is the most difficult for you to understand?